How To Keep The House Warm All Year Long

We’re well and truly into the colder months now – and it’s particularly noticeable at night. If you don’t want to dial up the cost of electricity too much though, here are some other ways to keep your home as warm as possible.

Keep insulated

Insulation can be expensive to install (or top up) but it can make a big difference to the retention of heat in your house as the majority of heat in a room is transferred through the roof. And a double benefit, it can also help to keep your home cool in summer! According to Energywise, as many as 600,000 New Zealand houses have insufficient ceiling or underfloor insulation.

Stop the drafts

Houses can be drafty – and those drafts can undo the hard work your insulation is trying to achieve. So seal up any cracks and gaps, either permanently for wall and window gaps or via a door stopper for doorways. It’s a cost-effective way to keep your home warmer.

Shade Walls and Openings

Well-designed eaves and window hoods provide shading to walls and glazing in summer, whilst allowing sun to penetrate openings for heating in winter.

Close the curtains

All that glass is very effective at transferring heat out of your home! Heavy curtains which cover all the window will insulate your windows and help keep the warmth in. Letting the sunlight in during the day though is a great way to warm the place up, so don’t leave them closed all day.

Go easy on the temperature setting

While it might be nice to wear shorts all year around, you don’t need to go overboard with the heating pump temperature. Keep the thermostat at a level that is comfortable but not overly warm. Every extra degree of heating gets added to your power bill!

Maintain your heat pump

A well-maintained appliance is an efficient appliance, so ensure that you get your heat pump serviced regularly, as well as keeping the filters clean.

Close off rooms that are not in use

It is far easier and cheaper to heat a small space – so keep any rooms that are not being used closed off in order to maximise the heat in the rooms that are being used. Easy!

There are plenty of other ways to keep yourself warm; a hot drink, some warm-weather clothes and regular exercise are all a good start – as well as being cost effective. And if you’re in the market for a heat pump, check out our consumer satisfaction survey results and ratings here.

To our knowledge, all information in articles on the Canstar Blue website was correct at the time of publication. This information may have changed over time. Refer to the product fact sheet (or relevant similar documentation) before making any purchase decision. Canstar Blue's website terms and conditions apply.